Artist&#39;s painting kit



Dec. 3, 1968 c. E. THOMAS 3,4l4343 ARTIST'S PAINTING KIT Filed Jan. 16,1967 5 Sheets-Sheet l /NVE/VTOR CARROLL E. THOMAS 5y gramm ATTORNEY Dec.3, 1968 c. E. THOMAS 3,414,343

ARTIST' S PAINTING KIT Filed Jan. 1e, 1967 3 sheets-sheet 2 N. N l S c'1 \l k H ,n

A d Q /NVE/VTOR CARROLL E. THOMAS A TTOR/VEY DeC- 3, 1968 c. E. THOMAS3,414,343

ARTIST'S PAINTING KT Filed Jan. 16, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /NVE/VTOI?GRROLL E. THOMAS ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,414,343 ARTISTSPAINTING KIT Carroll E. Thomas, 157 Marina Blvd., San Rafael, Calif.94901 Filed Jan. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 609,536 Claims. (Cl. 312-231)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The combined portable case and artistsequipment of the present invention comprises a case compartment providedwith a hingedly connected lid for, on the one hand, compactly housingall of such equipment and, on the other hand, for functionally coactingin combination with a hingedly connected base plate and an :adjustableeasel for setting up and maintaining the easel in optimum position foran artists use and for rmly supporting a paint containing box having alid detachably secured thereof and serving as a palette when removed andsecured on said base plate in an inverted position. The paint containingbox detachably supports suitable water containers, and the base platepivotally supports an auxiliary palette. The easel is provided withextension members enabling the placement and maintenance thereon of anyselected one of a plurality of artists sheets of different sizes, andalso is provided with means for holding the easel with or withoutadjusted extension members in a predetermined angular relationship withthe base plate, preferably at approximately thirty-five degree anglewith respect to the horizontal.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationentitled Artists Water Color Kit, Ser. No. 574,830, tiled Aug. 24, 1966.

This invention relates to artists painting equipment and moreparticularly to a painters kit compactly packaged for convenience incarrying and embodying an easily set up easel having a base plate tosecurely support a partitioned box containing various colored paints, aconvertible top for the box to provide a palette for mixing the paints,an adjustable plate pivotally conl nected to the base plate to providean auxiliary palette for mixing various kinds of paints and a combinedwater container and indicator to guide an artist in holding the easel ina suitable inclined position while applying watercolor paint to a papersheet supported on the easel.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an artistsklit of the kind characterized, including, in combination, a supportingbase plate, an easel plate and an auxiliary palette plate which areadapted to be folded compactly for convenience in carrying but which maybe easily set up to provide a sheet supporting easel adapted to beconveniently held by a hand of the artist while his other hand isemployed in painting on the sheet, the auxiliary palette plate beingadjustable to an exposed position for the mixing of paints, thecombination also including means to guide an artist in holding the easelin a predetermined inclined position with respect to the base platewhile painting, and the base plate being adapted to support a paint box,a paint mixing palette which .is [adapted to provide a lid for the paintbox, and a combined water container and level indicator to supply waterfor paint mixing purposes while at the same time indicating theapproximate degree of inclination of the easel so the artist may beguided in maintaining the sheet in a suitable position while applyingpaint thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an artists kit including acombination easel, base plate and palette plate adjustably connected oneto another and arranged for folding into a compact package forconvenience in carrying and adapted to be easily set up to provide asheet supporting easel, a base to support painting paraphernalia and anauxiliary palette for the mixing of paints, the easel having extensiblemembers to facilitate the supporting of sheets of various sizes on theeasel.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a utility casefor holding various elements of the kit, the case, in combination withits hinged lid, being convertible into means adapted to support and holdthe easel in a suitable inclined operative position While the base andpalette plates rest on a table or other support.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed outhereinafter, or will be indicated in the appended claims or will beobvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the presentdisclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to showherein certain forms and details of an artists painting kitrepresentative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, thatthe embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is forillustration purposes only, and that therefore it is not to ybe regardedas exhaustive of the variation of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing the artists kit embodying myinvention set up and in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying case used to hold thevarious elements of the kit, showing the hinged top swung to an openposition;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the case, such casebeing adapted to receive and hold the folded elements of the kit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the base plate, the palette plate,the easel and the easel extensions in extended positions;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the container and its hingedtop positioned to support the easel, its extensions and the sheet inoperative positions with the base and palette plates supported on ahorizontal support;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the paint box with the lid in place;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken, on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, showingpaint in the compartments;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the paint box with the lid removed, showing thewater container mounted on an end of such box;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8, showing thecompartments empty;

FIG. 10 is a side view, partly in section, of an oil and turpentinecontainer which is adapted to be supported on the base plate;

FIG. 11 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the base plate andeasel, showing the means for maintaining these elements in operative setup positions; and

FIG. l2 is a detailed view showing means for holding a wiping cloth.

Referring to the dnawings, the numeral 10 designates a flat base plateof substantially rectangular shape made from sheet steel and preferablyhaving a coating of porcelain or other suitable material on its upperface. Pivotally connected las at 11 to the base plate is an auxiliarypalette plate 12 of substantially the same shape as the base plate andalso having a coating of porcelain or other suitable material on itsupper face. The coatings on the plates 10 and 12 provide suitablesurfaces for the mixing of paints. The palette plate 12 is mounted forpivotal adjustment to a compact folded position underlying the baseplate and to an extended position wherein it may be used las anauxiliary palette for the mixing of paints. Secured to one end of thebase plate 10 is a hinged plate 13 formed with spaced eyes 14 to receivea hinge pin 15. Also connected to the hinge pin is a second hinge plate16 having eyes 17 to receive the hinge pin. Suitably secured to thehinge plate 16 is a flat plate provid-ing an easel 18 which hassubstantially the same shape as the base plate 10 and is arranged forswinging movement to a folded position overlying the base plate and fromsuch folded position to a set up position wherein it is disposed atapproximately thirty-live degrees with respect to the base plate. Two ormore of the eyes 14 of the hinge plate 13 are provided with suitablyarranged protuberances 19 which are adapted to engage with the loweredge of the easel 18 to provide stop means to limit the rearwardswinging movement of the easel beyond its aforesaid set up position. Theeasel 18 is sufficiently narrow in width to permit an artist to graspand hold the same in one hand while painting with his other hand. Theeasel may, if so desired, be provided with suitable means for adjustablysupporting a wiping cloth 20, such means preferably including an opening21 in the easel and a projecting tongue 22, as shown in FIG. 12. Thewiping cloth extends beneath the tongue 22 and when required a cleanportion of the cloth may be exposed by pulling the cloth either to theright or left to suitably shift the position thereof to thereby providethe artist with clean portions for wiping a paint brush thereon.

To increase the supporting area of the easel so larger sheets A ofpaper, canvas or other material may be suitably supported thereon, Ihave pivotally attached an extensible rectangular auxiliary easel plate23 to such easel as at 24. The easel 18 and the auxiliary plate 23 areof substantially the same over-all size, and the pivot member 24, whichmay be in the form of a rivet, is so arranged and positioned that thesaid plate may be swung from a folded position coinciding with the easelto one of several positions as shown in FIG. 4. To facilitate theadjustment of the auxiliary easel plate, as well as other extensionmembers, a teon washer (not shown) is preferably positioned between therelatively adjustable members. Pivotally attached to the easel 18adjacent the lateral edges thereof as by rivets 25 and 26 are adjustableextension strips 27 and 28, respectively, and pivotally connected tosuch extension strips 27 and 28 as by rivets 29 and 30, respectively,are auxiliary extension strips 31 and 32. The extension strips, as wellas the auxiliary extension strips, are adapted to swing outwardly topositions extending beyond the easel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, therebyconsiderably enlarging the supporting area of the easel so a sheet A ofconsiderable width may be mounted thereon and held against displacementby suitable spring clips 33 or other adequate means. Pivotally attachedto the auxiliary easel plate 23 at opposite corners thereof as by rivets34 and 35 are extension strips 36 and 37, respectively. Pivotallyconnected to the outer ends of the extension strips 36 and 37 as byrivets 38 and 39, respectively, are auxiliary extension strips 40 and41. The extension strips 36 and 37 and the auxiliary extension strips 40and 41 are adapted to be swung outwardly to various relative positionsto further enlarge the sheet supporting area of the easel. Alsopivotally connected to the auxiliary easel plate 23 as at 42 is anextension strip 43 having an opening 43a therein which is adapted toreceive a projecting member on the hinged lid of a case, as will belater described. Connected to an end of the extension strip 43 as at 44is an auxiliary extension strip 44a which is also used to enlarge thesheet supporting area of the easel.

The base plate, the easel, the auxiliary easel plate and the auxiliarypalette preferably have substantially the same rectangular shape anddimensions so they may be folded into a compact assembly with theseelements overlying one another, and while the precise dimensions mayvary, I have found that for convenience in carrying and in manuallyholding the set up assembly while painting, it is desirable that thedimensions of these elements be approximately four by three andthree-quarter inches.

Comprising parts of the artists k-it is a paint box 45 made preferablyfrom a suitable plastic material and having its interior divided bypartitions 46 into a plurality of paint holding compartments 47. Fittingon the box 45 is a lid 48 having therein a sealing gasket 49 0f rubberor other resilient material to engage with the upper edges of thepartitions `and provide an air tight seal enclosing the compartments 47.The opposite ends of the paint box 45 are formed with resilient latchmembers 5t) which are arranged for locking engagement with complementaryprojecting catch members 51 on the ends of the lid 48. The catch members51 have inwardly inclined sides which are adapted to engage withoutwardly inclined sides on the latch members when the lid is presseddownwardly to a closing position on the box, such action displacing thelatch members 50 outwardly to subsequently effect a locking engagementbetween the latch and catch members, with the gasket 49 under tensionengaging the latch and catch members to prevent any inadvertent oraccidental unlatching of the lid 48. To remove the lid from the box thelid is pressed downwardly manually to compress the resilient gasket 49thus permitting the latch members to be displaced outwardly from thecatch members. Secured to the upper side of the lid 48 is a magnet 52and similarly secured to the bottom of the paint box 45 is a magnet 53.The magnets 52 and 53 are adapted to function in cooperativerelationship with the steel base plate 10 to normally prevent thedisplacement of the paint box 45 and the lid 48 when these elements aresupported on the base plate with the magnets engaging with the latter.When removed from the box 4S and supported on the base plate in areversed or upside down position, the lid 48 provides a palette formixing paints. When an artist is painting and holding the easel in hishand it is preferable to position the heavier paint box near the hingeend of the base plate 10 with the lighter lid 48 positioned adjacent theother end of such base plate as shown in FIG. l. On the other hand, whenthe base plate is resting on a table or other horizontal support, it isusually preferable to reverse the relative positions of the box and thelid so the heavier paint box will be positioned to counteract the weightof the easel and sheet and normally prevent the tipping of the assemblywhile the artist applies paint to the sheet. The box is slightly longerthan the width of the base so that one or more water containers 54 ofthe type embodying the present invention may be supported on either orboth ends of such box, as will be later described.

S0 as to mount a water container 54 on an end of the paint box 45 I haveprovided suitable means preferably comprising projecting members 55 oneach end of the box and complementary elements 56 on a side of eachcontainer, such complementary elements fitting on the projecting members55 to detachably mount the water container on the box.

Each water container 54 is preferably made from a suitable translucentplastic material which enables the artist to observe the consistenthorizontal water level. Extending around the upper edge portion of thewater container is an opaque indicator strip or mark 57 which Iishorizontally disposed and so arranged that the upper surface of the bodyof Water in the container preferably coincides with the lower horizontaledge of such indicator strip. The means attaching the water container 54to the paint box 45 is so constructed and arranged that when the box isresting on the base plate and the latter is in a horizontal position thelower edge of the indicator strip or mark 57 will coincide with or willbe in a parallel relation to the water level. Thus an artist whenholding the easel 18 in one hand and painting with the other can readilyobserve the relative positions of the indicator strip and the waterlevel to determine whether the easel is being held at an angle of about35 degrees with respect to the horizontal. It has been found that if thesheet A is supported in a position at approximately 35 degrees withrespect to the horizontal, water color paints when applied to suchsheets will spread downwardly in an even wash, a result desirable inpainting.

A carrying case 58 having a hinged lid 59 is adapted to hold the paintbox 4S, the compactly folded base plate 10, the auxiliary palette plate12, the easel 18 with its extension members, the water container 54, twopalette cups and the spring clips 33. The case 58, the lid 59 and aflexible connecting member 60 which Provides hinge means for theswinging movement of the lid are formed from a suitable semi-rigidplastic material. A side of the lid 59 is provided with latch members 61which are adapted to engage with complementary catch members 62 on aside of the case 58 to normally hold the lid in a closed position. Todetach the latch members from the catch members when opening case, theside of such case near the catch members is pressed inwardly, therebydisconnecting the latch and catch members.

The side of the lid which carries the latch members is provided with asuitably shaped protuberance or lug 63, which, when such lid is in anopen position, is adapted to extend through the opening 43a in theextension strip 43 to hold the easel 18 and the sheet A in suitableinclined positions with the case 58 resting on a horizontal table orother support. The easel 18 is formed with two openings 18a which areadapted to receive the catch members 62 on the side of the case to holdthe easel 18 against displacement. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5the case and lid may be used as suitable supporting means to hold theeasel 18 and a large sheet A in inclined positions when the base plateis resting on a horizontal support.

In FIG. 10 I have shown one of two small containers 64 for holdingmaterials such as oil, turpentine or acrylic mediums used in oil andacryl-ic painting. The bottom of each of the containers 64 has securedthereto a magnet 65 to engage with the base plate 10, and with an easilydetachable top 66 to confine such materials within the container.

What I claim is:

1. An artists kit comprising, in combination, (A) a base plate tosupport a paint box having a removable lid serving as a palette whenremoved and inverted and disposed on said base plate; (B) an auxiliarypalette plate pivotally connected to the base plate, the said auxiliarypalette plate being adjustable to a position extending outwardly fromthe base plate and to a folded position underlying the base plate; (C)an easel plate pivotally connected at an end thereof to an end of thebase plate, the said easel plate being adjustable to a folded positionoverlying the base plate and to a set-up inclined position with respectto the base plate to support a painters sheet; (D) extension memberspivotally connected to the easel plate, the said extension members beingadjustable to folded positions lying alongside the easel plate and toextended positions to support a sheet substantially larger in area thanthe easel plate; (E) a paint kit containing box adapted to be supportedon the base plate when the easel plate and the base plate are in theaforesaid set-up positions, and; (F) a carrying case adapted to housethe folded elements comprising the base plate, the paint box includingthe invertible lid defining a palette, the auxiliary palette plate, theeasel plate and the extension members.

2. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is offerrous metal and the paint box is provided with a magnet to Contact thebase plate to provide cooperative magnetic action to normally hold thepaint box against displacement.

3. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary paletteplate is porcelain coated to provide a surface to mix paints thereon.

4. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein the paint box is providedat either or both ends thereof with means to support water containers.

5. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein the carrying case isprovided with a hinged lid adapted to swing to an open position to holdthe easel and a painters sheet supported on such easel in inclinedpositions, the said case and the lid having projecting members thereonto engage, respectively with one of the extension members and the easelplate, to hold the easel against displacement with respect to the case.

6. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is offerrous metal and the paint box has a magnet on its bottom side tocontact the base plate to provide cooperative magnetic action with thebase plate to normally hold the paint box against displacement, and thepaint box is provided with projecting members at either or both endsthereof to support translucent water containers each having one or moreopaque marks thereon to indicate the position of the base plate withrespect t0 the water level of the water in the container.

7. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is offerrous metal and the paint box is provided with a removable lid and thepaint box has a magnet on the bottom side thereof to contact the baseplate to provide cooperative action with the base plate to normally holdthe box against displacement and the lid has a magnet affixed to theupper side thereof to contact the base plate when the normal position ofsuch lid is reversed, whereby the lid is normally held againstdisplacement on the base.

8. An artists painting kit comprising in combination (a) a base platefor supporting an open paint box and an inverted lid dening a palette;

(b) an auxiliary palette pivotally connected to said base plate; saidauxiliary palette being adapted to be adjusted to a position extendingoutwardly from said base plate and to a position underlying said baseplate;

(c) an easel plate hingedly connected at one end thereof to an end ofsaid base plate; said easel plate being adapted to be adjusted to aposition overlying said base plate and to a set-up position inclinedwith respect to said base plate to support a painters sheet;

(d) extension members pivotally mounted on said easel plate; saidextension members being adapted to be adjusted to folded positionsalongside said easel plate and to extended positions to support anyselected one of a plurality of painters sheets of different sizes;

(e) means on said base plate engageable with said easel plate to limitthe extent of rearward swinging movement of said easel plate beyond apredetermined position;

(f) a paint containing box removably secured on the upper surface ofsaid base plate when said easel plate is in set-up position with respectto said base plate;

(g) a closure lid removably mounted on said paint containing box;

(h) a water container removably mounted on said paint containing box;

(i) a portable case having a relatively large comparb ment for housingthe painters equipment including said base plate, said paint containingbox with its palette defining closure lid, :said auxiliary palette, saideasel plate with its pivotally mounted extension members in foldedcondition, and said water container;

(j) a Llid hingedly connected to said portable case for closing andopening the same;

(k) a lug projecting from said lid; and

(l) catch members on said portable case; said lug on said lid and saidcatch members of said case cooperatively supporting said easel plate ina set-up inclined position with respect to said base plate when restingon a horizontal support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Endlich 206-1.7 X Lifton 312-231X Williams 108-43 X Sims 312-231 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

